CIP HuFE, 0.17

[MainiacJoe]

edgefigaro suggested I try a HuFE. Here it is thus far; don't know when I'll get to play again. No Temple yet, though I did get chased off of D:5 by Grinder with it about 2/3 explored. The biggest news is that I just found the Book of Conjurations; Searing Ray raises my killdudes confidence a great deal.

My thinking right now:

1. Searing Ray retires Flame Tongue and Throw Flame.
2. I'm training Polearms to reach over conjured flames. fsim says it catches up to the quarterstaff at skill 4, except against very evasive foes, for which I have Searing Ray now.
3. Sticky to 10% is my next magical goal, then IMB. Battlesphere in Lair.

Gods I'm aiming for are 1 Sif, 2 Kiku, 3 Dith, 4 Veh.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.17.1 (tiles) character file.

MainiacJoe the Conjurer (Human Fire Elementalist)   Turns: 9690, Time: 00:49:28

Health: 69/69      AC:  4    Str: 10    XL:     9   Next: 28%
Magic:  12/12      EV: 14    Int: 18    God:   
Gold:   324        SH:  0    Dex: 16    Spells: 5 memorised, 0 levels left

rFire  + . .     SeeInvis .     a - +2 quarterstaff (holy)
rCold  x . .     Clarity  .     J - troll hide {Purgy}
rNeg   . . .     SustAt   .     (shield currently unavailable)
rPois  .         Gourm    .     G - +0 helmet
rElec  .         Spirit   .     e - +0 cloak
rCorr  +         Warding  .     (no gloves)
rMut   .         Stasis   .     (no boots)
MR     .....                    y - amulet of resist corrosion
Stlth  ++........               C - +3 ring of intelligence
                                s - ring of fire

@: not resistant to hostile enchantments, unstealthy
A: no striking features
a: no special abilities


You are on level 6 of the Dungeon.
You are not hungry.

You have visited 1 branch of the dungeon, and seen 6 of its levels.
You have also visited: Sewer.

You have collected 363 gold pieces.
You have spent 39 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand Weapons
 a - a +2 quarterstaff of holy wrath (weapon)
 b - a +0 hunting sling
 c - the +1 hand axe of Ethiusoa {drain, *Noise +Blink rElec Int-2}
   (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)   
   
   A truly terrible weapon, it drains the life of those it strikes.
   
   It affects your intelligence (-2).
   It insulates you from electricity.
   It lets you blink.
   It may make noises in combat.
 w - a +0 halberd
Missiles
 d - 175 stones (quivered)
 g - 22 sling bullets
 x - 30 poisoned needles
 A - a throwing net
Armour
 e - a +0 cloak (worn)
 G - a +0 helmet (worn)
 H - a +0 robe
 J - a troll hide (worn) {Purgy}
Jewellery
 f - an uncursed ring of flight
 q - an uncursed ring of sustain attributes
 s - a ring of fire (left hand)
 y - an amulet of resist corrosion (around neck)
 C - a +3 ring of intelligence (right hand)
Wands
 l - a wand of magic darts
 K - a wand of random effects (36)
 R - a wand of digging {zapped: 1}
Scrolls
 o - 3 scrolls of remove curse
 v - 2 scrolls of fear
 F - 2 scrolls of fog
 N - 2 scrolls of blinking
 O - a scroll of teleportation
Potions
 h - 6 potions of curing
 i - a fuming sapphire potion
 k - 3 potions of lignification
 r - a potion of heal wounds
 t - a white potion
 u - a green potion
 z - 2 fizzy blue potions
 B - a lumpy grey potion
 L - 2 red potions
 M - a golden potion
Books
 n - a book of Flames   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Flame Tongue                 Conjuration/Fire              1
    b - Throw Flame                  Conjuration/Fire              2
    c - Conjure Flame                Conjuration/Fire              3
    d - Inner Flame                  Hexes/Fire                    3
    e - Sticky Flame                 Conjuration/Fire              4
    f - Fireball                     Conjuration/Fire              5
 T - a book of Conjurations   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Magic Dart                   Conjuration                   1
    b - Searing Ray                  Conjuration                   2
    c - Dazzling Spray               Conjuration/Hexes             3
    d - Fulminant Prism              Conjuration/Hexes             4
    e - Iskenderun's Mystic Blast    Conjuration                   4
    f - Iskenderun's Battlesphere    Conjuration/Charms            5
Comestibles
 m - 6 meat rations
 E - 7 bread rations
 I - 12 fruits
 S - 2 chunks of flesh


   Skills:
 - Level 5.7 Fighting
 + Level 2.6 Polearms
 - Level 5.0 Dodging
 - Level 2.0 Stealth
 - Level 2.0 Spellcasting
 - Level 6.4 Conjurations
 + Level 5.5 Fire Magic


You cannot memorise any spells.
You know the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Flame Tongue          Conj/Fire      #####        2%          1    #......
b - Throw Flame           Conj/Fire      #####.       4%          2    ###....
c - Conjure Flame         Conj/Fire      #####...     10%         3    ###....
d - Sticky Flame          Conj/Fire      #####...     24%         4    #####..
e - Searing Ray           Conj           ####..       3%          2    ###....


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (6/15)           
Temple: D:4-7       

Altars:
Okawaru
Trog
Zin

Shops:
D:5 *

Annotations:
D:3 exclusion: downstairs
D:5 Grinder

Message History

You finish taking off your +0 robe.
You start putting on your armour.
You continue putting on your troll hide {Purgy}. x5
You finish putting on your troll hide {Purgy}.
Saving game... please wait.
Welcome back, MainiacJoe the Human Fire Elementalist.
Press ? for a list of commands and other information.
Drop what? 46/52 slots (_ for help) (? for menu, Esc to quit)
Okay, then.
Things that are here:
a cloak; a quarterstaff of chaos; the gnoll skeleton of Crazy Yiuf
Things that are here:
a robe; a scythe
Drop what? 46/52 slots (_ for help) (? for menu, Esc to quit)
You drop a +0 leather armour.
You drop a shortbow.
You drop a dire flail.
You drop a +0 trident.
You drop 60 arrows.
Saving game... please wait.

    #.# #.#    #.#
    #.# #.#    #.#
    #.# #.#    #.#
    #.# #.#    #.#
    #.###.######.#
    #............####
    #####.##.........
        #.#.###.####.
        #...........#
     ####.#####.....#
     #..............#
     #.##<###.#.....#
     #.##@.##.##...>#
     #..#.#.#  ######
     #.#[...#
######.##.###
#.........<.#
#[####.####.#?
#.#  #.#  ##.?
#.#  #.#   ##?
#.#  #.#
#.#  #.######
#.#  #......#
#.#  ########


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  Sigmund (D:6)
  Edmund (D:6)
  Purgy (Sewer)
  A black bear (D:6)
  An ice beast (D:4)
  A centaur (D:6)
  A big kobold (D:6)
  A scorpion (D:6)
  4 killer bees (D:6)
  3 crimson imps
  3 orc priests
  2 hounds
  Crazy Yiuf (D:6)
  A centaur skeleton (D:4)
  5 orc wizards
  Jessica (D:2)
  2 worker ants
  11 gnolls
  12 adders
  A shadow imp (D:6)
  A worm (D:2)
  4 giant geckos
  6 orcs
  3 ball pythons
  9 bats
  5 giant cockroaches
  6 goblins
  3 hobgoblins
  11 jackals
  2 quokkas
  2 giant newts
  22 kobolds
  A quokka skeleton (D:4)
  7 rats
136 creatures vanquished.

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | MainiacJoe the Human Fire Elementalist began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 13/13 MP: 3/3
   532 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 19/19 MP: 3/5
   783 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 24/24 MP: 2/6
   787 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Throw Flame
   791 | D:1      | Learned a level 3 spell: Conjure Flame
  1582 | D:2      | Found a bloodstained altar of Trog.
  1728 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 11/30 MP: 1/7
  2434 | D:2      | Reached skill level 4 in Conjurations
  2682 | D:2      | Noticed Jessica
  2744 | D:2      | Killed Jessica
  2744 | D:2      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 30/35 MP: 5/8
  4157 | D:3      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 41/41 MP: 6/9
  4569 | D:4      | Reached skill level 1 in Fighting
  5081 | D:4      | Noticed an ice beast
  5087 | D:4      | Killed an ice beast
  5087 | D:4      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 48/50 MP: 4/10
  5539 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  5758 | D:5      | Got a shimmering hand axe
  5759 | D:5      | Identified the cursed +1 hand axe of Ethiusoa {drain, *Noise +Blink rElec Int-2} (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)
  6145 | D:5      | Found Fiameyne's General Store.
  6200 | D:5      | Bought a scroll of remove curse for 39 gold pieces
  6219 | D:5      | Found a bloodstained altar of Trog.
  6395 | D:4      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  6686 | D:5      | Noticed Grinder
  6697 | D:5      | Paralysed by Grinder for 4 turns
  7071 | D:6      | Found a glowing silver altar of Zin.
  7113 | D:6      | Found a glowing drain.
  7117 | Sewer    | Entered a sewer
  7155 | Sewer    | Noticed Purgy
  7166 | Sewer    | Killed Purgy
  7166 | Sewer    | Reached XP level 8. HP: 35/59 MP: 0/11
  7509 | D:6      | Noticed Edmund
  7553 | D:6      | Killed Edmund
  7553 | D:6      | Reached skill level 5 in Fire Magic
  7981 | D:6      | Learned a level 4 spell: Sticky Flame
  8302 | D:6      | Found an iron altar of Okawaru.
  8349 | D:6      | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  8413 | D:6      | Reached skill level 5 in Conjurations
  8662 | D:6      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 46/69 MP: 12/12
  9314 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Polearms
  9423 | D:6      | Reached skill level 6 in Conjurations
  9540 | D:6      | Noticed Sigmund
  9547 | D:6      | Killed Sigmund
  9630 | D:6      | Noticed Crazy Yiuf
  9632 | D:6      | Killed Crazy Yiuf
  9648 | D:6      | Learned a level 2 spell: Searing Ray


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Short sword       |    28 |    57 |       ||    85
       Dagger            |     1 |     1 |       ||     2
       Spear             |       |    57 |       ||    57
       Quarterstaff      |       |       |   154 ||   154
       Hand axe          |       |       |     9 ||     9
       Trident           |       |       |    33 ||    33
 Fire: Hunting sling     |       |     6 |    25 ||    31
Throw: Stone             |    24 |     6 |     3 ||    33
 Cast: Flame Tongue      |    59 |    81 |    59 ||   199
       Conjure Flame     |     1 |     7 |    11 ||    19
       Throw Flame       |       |     1 |     4 ||     5
  Use: Scroll            |     3 |     6 |     6 ||    15
       Potion            |       |     1 |       ||     1
 Stab: Sleeping          |       |     4 |     4 ||     8
  Eat: Chunk             |     3 |    13 |    15 ||    31
       Pizza             |       |       |     1 ||     1
       Beef jerky        |       |       |     1 ||     1



[Jeremiah]

Dithmenos doesn't sound like a very good idea unless you're going to completely give up on fire magic.

[MainiacJoe]

That's right, Dith hates fire. I was only thinking about the spell mimicking. Duh!

[edgefigaro]

Dith on an FE? Good luck with that.

I'm also not a fan of Kiku on FE, Skeletons and zombies kill themselves in fire clouds. It is probably still strong. Kiku is strong.

I don't really have an opinion on god choice other than Vehu if you want firestorm/want to play true to blaster caster. Gods are strong. Vehu won't really help for a while. His first few gifts will be worthless because books of Flames and Conjurations cover all your bases.

I'm a big fan of ash on casters.

I'm not sure why you are concerned with 4 in polearms. The fact that the halberd meets pace with the staff at 4 doesn't really matter. The staff cannot reach over flame clouds whether it does more damage or not. Flame tongue and searing ray are both better, and you should probably retreat if you run out of MP if you have a halberd or not. I would be more interested in committing to staves than polearms. It isn't an important distinction.

Throw flame is obsolete now that you have magic dart. Amnesia it if you find random a scroll. Dazzling spray is a good spell. I'm ambivalent about the troll hide. It is a robe with regen worth -4 ER. Is regen really worth it? I'd wear it for speedrunning purposes but it is probably not optimal.

Spellcasting to 3 is nice, prudent.

Don't die to a frost imp.